[Asis-l] Simmons SLIS receives IMLS Grant

[Alisa Libby]

Simmons SLIS, along with New America's Open Technology Institute
<https://www.newamerica.org/oti/> and Internet2 <https://www.internet2.edu/>,
have received an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) FY2018
National Leadership Grants for Libraries award. Their 24-month research
project, “Measuring Library Broadband Networks for the National Digital
Platform (LG-71-18-0110-18)
<https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/lg-71-18-0110-18>,” will examine how
advanced broadband measurement capabilities can support the infrastructure
and services needed to respond to the digital demands of public library
users across the U.S.

Assistant Professor *Colin Rhinesmith* is principal investigator for the
project. “Public libraries across the U.S today need access to accurate,
reliable data in order to respond to their communities’ growing demand for
broadband-enabled applications and services.” Rhinesmith says, “Our project
addresses this need by working with public librarians and library network
administrators to develop the broadband measurement tools and training they
need to best support their communities’ networked information needs."

The project will gather quantitative and qualitative data from public
libraries across the country about broadband speeds, quality of service,
infrastructure, network usage and capacity and connectivity needs, among
other factors. Findings from the research will be used to create the
project’s three deliverables: an open-source and replicable broadband
measurement platform; a broadband measurement platform training manual for
public librarians; and a final report on the project.

“America’s public libraries remain a cornerstone of educational opportunity
in communities all across our country in part by providing all citizens
with unfettered access to high quality and high capacity broadband
services,” said James Werle, executive director, Internet2 Community Anchor
Program. “The Internet2 community is proud to partner with Simmons College
and New America's Open Technology Institute to measure broadband speeds at
libraries and gather more accurate data on broadband performance to help
inform libraries, policy makers, and researchers.”

“New America's Open Technology Institute is excited to partner with
Simmons, Internet2, and IMLS to build an accessible and usable broadband
measurement system to support the work of libraries nationwide," said Chris
Ritzo, senior technologist at the Open Technology Institute. "Using
participatory design with library staff, we'll build a system that will
both enable libraries to automate the longitudinal measurement of their
broadband quality and also complement the research on broadband undertaken
in the library community to date."

“As centers of learning and catalysts of community change, libraries and
museums connect people with programs, services, collections, information,
and new ideas in the arts, sciences, and humanities. They serve as vital
spaces where people can connect with each other,” said IMLS Director Dr.
Kathryn K. Matthew. “IMLS is proud to support their work through our grant
making as they inform and inspire all in their communities.”

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Alisa M. Libby
Communications Assistant
Simmons College, SLIS
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
t 617-521-2816
f 617-521-3192

Author, *The King's Rose* and *The Blood Confession*
alisalibby.com